Niamuck Land Trust

The story of the Shinnecock Nation through the colonial era into modern times has been full of injustices and false narratives that have become detrimental to the wellbeing of the Shinnecock community. One of the many issues they face is the desecration of historic burial sites, ceremonial sites, farming sites, fishing areas, and other natural resources. All of which are sacred to the Shinnecock People.

Through the efforts of the Co-Chair and founder of the Shinnecock Nation Graves Protection Warrior Society, Rebecca Genia, the fight to protect the sacred sites on Long Island has never ceased.

The members of the Shinnecock Nation Graves Protection Warrior Society have primarily volunteered their time and dedicated much of their lives to see that these sites be taken care of in a proper manner. Throughout their history, they have managed to assist in the preservation of several sites across Long Island through entities such as the Southampton Town's Community Preservation Fund and the Peconic Land Trust.

The word "niamuck", meaning "to carry on the shoulder", is derived from the name of the lands at the western most part of the Shinnecock Hills. Now the location of the Shinnecock Canal, Niamuck was once a thin stretch of land where the Shinnecock people would carry their canoes from the Shinnecock Bay to the Peconic Bay. 

The Niamuck Land Trust was incorporated by members of the Shinnecock Nation Graves Protection Warrior Society as a means to facilitate the acquisition and stewardship of lands for preservation, ceremonial and educational purposes. NLT will always be led by members of the Shinnecock Nation to ensure that Shinnecock people will always have access to the areas and resources NLT provides.

The Peconic Land Trust has established a special fund for the acquisition, restoration and ongoing stewardship of Shinnecock sacred land in the Town of Southampton.

In July 2021, the Trust acquired the summit of Sugar Loaf Hill in Shinnecock Hills. Simultaneously, the Town of Southampton purchased the development rights on the property forever protecting it from residential development. The Trust will remove the existing residence and restore the property to its natural state in conjunction with the Shinnecock Graves Protection Warrior Society (GPWS). The Trust’s intent is to transfer the land to the Shinnecock people as soon as practicable with the approval of the Town.

The Shinnecock Land Acquisition and Stewardship Fund supports the Trust’s efforts to acquire, restore and steward sacred Shinnecock land in conjunction with the GPWS. 

"After years of work with the Shinnecock Graves Protection Warrior Society (GPWS), and months of negotiations with the Town and the owners of Sugar Loaf’s summit, the Trust acquired this most sacred land on July 22 in a simultaneous transaction wherein the Town purchased the development rights on the property, thereby protecting it from any residential development in the future." 

"There is much more land to protect in Shinnecock Hills in partnership with the GPWS and the Town. In order to accomplish this, more private funds will need to be raised. To this end, the Trust has established a special fund for this purpose – the Shinnecock Land Acquisition and Stewardship Fund. These funds will cover the remaining costs for this project as well as future acquisitions, restoration and ongoing stewardship related to sacred Shinnecock land. To learn more, please contact Amanda Abraham, our Director of Development."

~ https://peconiclandtrust.org/blog/a-step-toward-equity-sugar-loaf-hill-summit-sacred-land-of-shinnecock-people-protected

 You can make a tax-deductible gift in support of Shinnecock Land Acquisition and Stewardship Fund through the Peconic Land Trust online or by mail to Peconic Land Trust, 296 Hampton Road, Southampton, NY 11968. Please indicate Shinnecock Land Acquisition and Stewardship Fund when making your donation.